OCA Holy Synod gathers for 2008 Fall Session
The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America gathered today for its 2008 Fall Session. The meetings opened with a Moleben celebrated by His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri of Dallas and the South and Locum Tenes of the Metropolitan See.
A main item of the agenda on Tuesday was reporting from the four-person Chancery administrative team: Chancellor, Archpriest Alexander Garklavs; Secretary, Archpriest Eric G. Tosi; Treasurer, Priest Michael Tassos, and Director of Ministries and Communications, Archpriest Andrew Jarmus.
The Tuesday meeting concluded in the evening with Vespers, followed by a rite of forgiveness. This was announced in a pastoral letter from the Holy Synod issued on the feast day of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and Apostle to America, October 9, 2008. “The paths of mutual forgiveness and reconciliation are the ones that we all must follow and we must walk upon them beginning this day,” the hierarchs wrote. “Shortly, the Holy Synod will meet for its Fall Session. It is our intention, on one particular day, to celebrate Vespers followed by a ceremony of mutual forgiveness.” The celebration of the Divine Liturgy will follow on Wednesday morning, October 15.
During the remainder of the Fall Session, hierarchs will hear reports from various Church committees and commissions and will address a number of current issues, including discussing final preparations for the OCA’s 15th-All American Council that will take place November 10 to 13, 2008, in Pittsburgh, PA.
Joining the diocesan and auxiliary hierarchs at this meeting is Archimandrite Jonah (Paffhausen) Bishop-elect, who will be consecrated Bishop of Fort Worth and Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of the South on November 1, 2008, at St. Seraphim Cathedral in Dallas, TX.
The 2008 Fall Session of the Holy Synod of Bishops will continue to the afternoon of Thursday, October 16. More information on the meetings will be posted as it becomes available.